Party over individual, DAP's Teo tells Chinese voters to mark Umno despite sentiments, concerns over Umno candidate

KLUANG - DAP women’s wing chief Teo Nie Ching acknowledges that her party faces a significant challenge in convincing Chinese voters to turn out for the upcoming Mahkota by-election, primarily due to concerns over an Umno leader.

Responding to a question on how DAP plans to attract Chinese voters, Teo clarified that these concerns were genuine, as there are reservations within the community.

"It’s indeed a challenge, and before coming here, I attended a dialogue. I can't deny that in WhatsApp groups, some voters have expressed discomfort with a particular Umno leader," she said after attending the Ceramah Perpaduan at Foo Man Tang Food Court here yesterday.

However, Teo urged voters not to let dissatisfaction with one individual dictate their decision.

"The message we want to send is that decisions shouldn't be based on one individual alone.

"We may have personal reasons for disliking a leader, but let’s not overlook the many capable leaders we must support," she said, encouraging voters to focus on the broader political landscape.

While acknowledging the difficulty of overcoming these concerns, Teo emphasised the importance of remembering the bigger stakes.

"This election isn't about defeating Umno or teaching someone a lesson.

"We need to understand that a loss here isn’t just about one leader but also a setback for unity, including Barisan Nasional (BN), Pakatan Harapan (PH), and the Unity Government," she added.

According to Teo, the issue of voter turnout, especially among the Chinese community, has been a growing concern as the election approaches.

Earlier, while addressing the local Chinese community, Teo said DAP’s support for the BN candidate from Umno is a gesture of gratitude for Umno’s efforts in helping DAP candidate Pang Sock Tao secure victory in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election in May.

The Mahkota by-election, held following the death of incumbent Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2, is a straight fight between BN candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah and Perikatan Nasional candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar.

The Election Commission (EC) has set Sept 28 as polling day, while early voting takes place on Sept 24.